My uncle recently shot a caribou (10 days) that was in velvet. The antlers were still somewhat soft and bloody. His guides told him it was expensive to preserve velvet so they peeled it off and set it in a lake for a few days. Now he cant get rid of the blood in the antlers. What can he do to get rid of the blood and should he let it dry longer? jkunze@ictc.com

Throwing them in the lake was the proper way but it takes a lot longer to get it all out.You need to find a safe place where you can soak them for a few months and it will gradually leach out.They will then be very light colored and can be stained back.If the blood is allowed to dry like that,they are very blotchy and stain won't cover it.The blood can also attract bugs to the mount.I'm in the same boat.i just got one in that was stripped and they could only soak it for one day before flying out.I'm going to have to soak it for some time to get it all out.Good luck with it.

IF the antlers are split and you can find a container big enough to hold them, cover them with water with SALT added. Much like you do on fresh meat or fish, soaking them in salt water will accelerate the leeching out of the blood. As Jim said, this will take weeks and not a few days. You're still likely going to have to hang them in a loft or attic to allow them to dry properly. Once dry, they will require finishing and those steps are hopefully available in the archives.

I agree with Alex SR Peroxide and a soft brush and keep aplying and removing this will get most of the blood out. However it should have been soaked in a lake after the velvet was stripped off. This will make it more difficult but will get most of the blood out. Good Luck.